Electrically-propelled vehicle.



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ELEGTRICALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE.

(Application filed Oct. 27, 1886.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(N0 Model.)

No. 939,999. Patented nec. l2, |899.

m. HUNTER. Y* ELECTRIGALLY PRPEL'LED V'lI-ZHGLE;

(Application med oct. 27, leso.) (No Medel.) 2 Sheets-Sheei 2.

rrre STABS ATENT OFFICE.

THE ELF. )"RIO CAR COMPANY OF AMERICA, OF

vSAME PLACE.

ELECTRCALLY-PROPEL'LED VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

638,966, dated December 12, 1899.

Application ned coate- 27,1886. sain No'. 217,346. No model.)

'Stat-c of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improve men t inElectrically-Propelled Vehicles,

' of which the following is a speciiication.

Myinvention has reference to electricallypropelled vehicles; and itconsists of certain improvements, which are fully set f'orth in thefollowing specification and shown in the accompanying d rawings, whichform a part thereof.

My invention has especial reference to electrically-propelled vehicles,whether they be in a forni of pivoted trucks or made integral with. thesuperstruetu The characteristic features of my invention consist insupporting the motor or motors upon the axle or axles and sustainingthem by a frame also carried by the axles, whereby the motors are bothgeared and journaled to an axle and preferablysustained indepen dentlyofthe car-body. The motoris preferably journaled upon the axle by suitablebearings arranged at considerable distances apart, so as to permit themotors to move more orless about their respective axles as centers, thefree ends of the in otors being preferably flexibly supported, ashereinafter described.

Referring more particularly to the con-- struction shown, I employ thefollowing arrangement of partei; to wit: To the axle or axles of thevehicle I journal one or more electric motors, which have their journalsso located that they arc preferably balanced upon said axles. By thismeans the motorsliaft is allowed lo nieve in an are about the axle andis connected thereto by suitable gearing or power-transmitting devices.To prevent free rotation of the motor and take up the jar, it issupported by a yielding, flexible, or spring device to the vehicle ortruck frame, and this enables the first power of the motor in startingto be expended in putting the spring under tension and provides anelastic connection between the motor and axle, facilitating the startingof the vehicle int-o motion from a state of rest. I do not limit myselfto any particular form of flexi-A -ble or elastic connection, as thespecific con-' struclions are capable of much niodilicaiion.

Such a connection of motor may be applied to a car or vehicle havingaxles connected to the car-body, as in the case of ordinary streetcars,or to a car having pivoted trucks, the difference being simply theconnection of the car-body with the axles and not modifying thearrangement of the motor with respect to the axles or its method ofsupport.

As shown in this application, Iv prefer to use two motors, one on eachaxle and facing each other. The free ends of the motors may be connectedto the opposite ends of the same supporting device.

'lhe regulating devices for controlling the' current in the motor arepreferablyarranged upon the car-body and connect with the eollectors andmotor by wires arranged close-to the pivot-point or kingbolt of thetruck to prevent excessive torsion or displacement upon the car runningupon curves, and there- 1 by insuring durability to the connections.

The regulating devices may be controlled' from either end of the ear andsecured, if cesired, against the dashers, as shown.

To make the car ride more easily with the increased speed attainable byof great spring action on the trucks, a feature more orless undesirable,I provide two elec? trically-propelled trucks connected together by atruss, 'to the ends of which A'the trucks are pivot-ed, and to thistruss I pivot the carbody. From this construction it willbe observedthateither truck may rise and fall or vjump and yet induce only a ver 1small vertical vibration to the car-body. With Ithis arran gement thedefects .of the rapid travel will be greatly eradicated and themotor-trucks will have increased endurance or life and Will be lessliable to breakage and derangement. As shown,-I make the center truek'dodouble duty by connecting it by'two separate trusses l electricity asvthe motive power and obviate the necessity* IOC showing connection oftruck to the car-body;

'and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the electrical t-udinal stringers,which may support the line conductors m if line conductors are employedas a source of electrical power.

It is immaterial to my invention in this application what the source ofpower may be, as the current may be supplied from batteries carried byor moving with the ears or line conductors as desired.

The construction shown in the drawings is such that the car-body of thevehicle may be directly support-ed upon the frame of the truck andwholly-sustained by two axles and four wheels, or the car-body may bepivoted to two trucks constructed substantially as illustrated. Ineither case what is here 'shown may be termed a truck for a car-body.The truck proper may be made in any of the well-known ways. That shownconsists of the frame B, provided with the usual side guides B2 for theaxle-boxes l), in which the axles D are journaled. d are the car-wheels.Supported by the axle-boxes B2, independent of the frame B', are theequalizi'ng-bars or side frames B3, between which and the frame B arearranged the springs b', which in the construction shown are the onlyspring devices used between thevehicl'e frame or body and axles. It isevident that the particular location of these springs b' between theaxleboxes and frame B' is immaterial. By 'the construction shown I amenabled to have the middlepart of the truck free or unobstructed and forthe disposal of the electrical connections 01' apparatus.

B4 is the pivot-plate for connection with the car-body. A truck may bepivoted at each end of the car-body if desired, in which case it. wouldbe like anyordinarycar having eight wheels. Again, I may consider theframe B as the vehicle-frame and as a com- The axles may pass betweenthe field-magnets. y

By this construction the motor-shafts g are caused to'remain at a fixeddistance from the axles irrespective of the movement of the motor aboutsaid axles, and the yokes or keepers of the magnets of the motors aresituated parallel with and in close proximity to the driving-axles. Tothe ends of the motor or drive shafts are secured the pinions G, whichpreferably have considerable widt-h.

- ment at their free ends. these arms K' are loosely journaled the col-Meshing with these pinions and secured to the axles are spur-wheels H.These spurwheels are made in two parts h h or as if divided through theplane of the wheel, and said parts are secured together by bolts. One ofsaid parts is keyed or otherwise secured to the axle, while the otherpart is adjustable thereon and bolted to the ixed part at some distancefrom the axle to make the connection more secure. By adjusting these twoparts the teeth thereoflnay be made to work smoothly between the teethof the pinion G and all lost motion be taken up. l/Vhile the above is anexcellent connection .between motor-shaft and axle, any other well-knownform of power connection may be used in place of it. The motor-shaftsare provided with the usual commutators and brushes e.

To prevent the free revolution of the motors about the axles and take upthe jar, I connect them by links J with the free end of a twoarmedspring J, which is carried by a cross bar or frame i, secured to theside frames or bars bars i constitute an independent truck-frame carriedby the axles and not partaking of all the vertical movements of thespring-supported vehicle-body. For simplicity and to cause the strainson the two ends of the spring .I to be in the same direction at the sametime the motors are arranged to face each other. This enables theadoption of a cheap and effective construction. It is to be understood,however, thatI do notlimit myself to any particular elastic or tiexiblesupporting connection for the motor, as my invention comprehends theelastic Iconnection broadly. A coil or other form of spring (shown indotted lines at-I) may be used in place of the fiat platespring. Now asthe motors start up the first tendency to revolution of the armatureswill be to oscillate the motors and put the springs J under tension.` Asthe resistance of the springs is gradually increased the tendency torotate the axle also gradually increases, and by this connection theeffective power of the motor on starting is greatly increased.

, The spring .I acts the same when the motor is run forward or backward.

I are cross-frames secured by the frame 'i or equalizing side bars,orboth, and are preferably. arranged below the springs J. To theseframes I are secured the collector-supporting plates K2, tov which thecollector-arms K are loosely hinged, with freedom to move- To the freeends of lector-wheels K. Any other form of collector may be-employed, orthe source ofpower may be batteries carried by or moving withthevehicle. plication is concerned it is immaterial what source ofelectrical power may be employed.

As shown in Sheet l, there are two positive and two negativecollector-wheels and arms, and the arms of like polarity are pivoted orhinged to the same plate K2 and may be caused The side frames B3 and thecross- So far as my invention in this ap- IIC ` the axle-boxes is notsubjected to the sudden A dltions, and the yielding or flexible connec?tion at the free end of the motor to the independent frame structureprevents binding of the motor upon the axle and also prevents anyswinging motions of the car-body producing such binding results. Thecar-body being supported upon springs and guided in and severe jar whichnaturally comes upon the independent frame sustaining the free end ofthe motor, and hence the comfort 'of the passengers is not impaired. Theindependent frame structure supporting the' mo-4 tors is 4already so lowdown that excellent provision is made for suspending,r the free ends ofthe motors without the necessity of employing other complicatedstructures or frames connecting with the vehicle-body; As the axle-boxesare independent of the vehiclebody and of the independent or truck frameB3 I i, the latter may coliform to the curves of the track and yet atall times sustain the free end of the motor without causing it to bindupon the axle to which it is hinged. By the employment of an independenttruckframe below the car-body or main supporting-frame thereotl as themeans for sustaining the' motor a better distribution of the weight ofthe motor is obtained than where connected with a part having thevertical motions of the body structure. No twisting of the car-body uponits supporting-springs or of the independentframe upon the axle-boxescan affect the motor so far as its mechanical operation in connectionwith the axle to which it is hinged and geared is concerned, By

` keeping the weight of the motor or motors off the vehicle-body and itssupporting-springs the 'body rides more easily and greatly less wear andtear come upon the supportingsprings.

I do not limit myself to any particular details of construction, as theymay be modified in various ways without in the least departing from theprinciples of my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new7 and desire tosecu re byLetters Patent, is-

l. In an electric railway two Working conductors arranged parallel tothe track and independent thereof, two or more trucks each provided withan electric motor, and two or more of which are provided withpositiveand negative collectors independent of the supporting or truckwheels Working in contact, with the working conductors, electriccircuits common to all of said motorsl on the dierent trucks,andreceiving current from the various collectors,and a car-bod y supportedupon said .60

trucks.

2. A running-gear for a rapidly-movin g electrically-propelled vehicle,consisting of the combination of two pivoted trucks,a truss pivoted toboth of said trucks at its ends, and provided at or near its middle-witha pivot connection for the car-body, an electric motor supported on eachtruck independently of electrodynamicmotor mounted thereon and the trussand mechanically connected with the axle th.ereo`f,`and connectingexible electric circuits between the several electric motors leading tothe car-body, and means to control the speed of the motors in saidcircuit. j

3. In an electrically-propelled car, the combination of three truckslinked together, two at least of said trucks having an electric motorhinged upon and adapted to drive an axle and having its free endsustained by the trame of the truck, a car-body supportedlby said truckswhereby they may shift relativelyone to the other to pass aroundcurves,and flexible means leading from the motors to the car-body forcontrolling the speed of the motors.

4. In an electrically-propelled vehicle the axle, in combination with amotor hinged directlythereto whereby its shaft always remains at a tlxeddistance from the axle, gearing or equivalent power-transmittingconnections between said axle and motor-shaft, a frame carried by theaxles and independent of the spring motions -of the vehicle-body, aspring carried by said frame, and a connection between the springand'the motor.

5. The combination of a frame joining the axles of arailway-truck andmounted thereon independent of the spring motions of the carbody,with anelectric motor having at one end a bearing lupon the axle independent ofthe frame, and a connection to the frame upholding the free end of themotor.

6. The combination of a frame joining the axles of a railway-truck andmounted thereon independent of the spring motions of the carhicle, asupport sustained by the axles, an'

electricmotor having its field-magnets pro- :vided with widely-separatedbearings journaled upon one of the'axles, and a connection between themotor and the support interme- IOO diate of the two axles upholding thefree end of the motor independent of the vehicle-body.' 8. Thecombination of a wheeled vehicle,

and an electrodynamic motor mounted thereon and propelling the samehaving its fieldmagnet provided with parts sleeved at one side of thearmature on an axle of the vehicle at widely-separated points, and aflexible or movable support for said field-magnet at its free end.

9. The combination of a wheeled vehicle, and an electrodynamic motormounted thereon and propelling the same the motorbeing-directly'centered at one side vof the armature on an axle of thevehicle at two points one on each side of the motor, and a flexiblesupport for said motor at its free end carried by the axles andindependent of the vertical motions of the vehicle-body.

-10. The combination of a wheeled vehicle having a body supported uponsprings, an

to move their free ends in the same direction by springs 7s, the tensionof which may be regulated by nuts 7s. Referring to Fig. 2, it will beobserved that these arms Kare made like bell-cranks and the short armsare connected by the springs 7c. While two pair of collector-wheels arepreferable, yet only one pair need be used, particularly so if the carhave two trucks, as then we would have two positive and two negativecollectors widely separated -to span breaks or divisions and keep acontinuous current in the motor-circuits. The collector-Wheels are madewith` lianges and run in contact with the angleiron conductors,1naking arolling contact upon l the face of the wheel and a sliding contact uponthe flange thereof, thereby greatly increasing the electrical contact.The weight of the Wheel and its arm causes the collec-tor to remain uponthe conductor, and the spring 7c causes the flange of the wheel to bepressed against the vertical leg of the angle-iron oonductor,`insuringgood contact and also causing the collector-wheel to follow all lateral`irregularities in the conductor.

The cross-barsI and equalizingbars B3 con stitute a frame carried uponthe axles, and said frame acts as the support for thesprings connectingwith the electric motors and is practically at a lower level than themotors and extends transversely across the vehicle below the springswhich support the motors.

W'hile this invention is specially designed for railway-cars, it isevident that it equally applies to vehicles of all descriptions whetherthey are adapted to run upon rails or roads. Hence in using the termscar and carbody I do not intend to confine myself to any special typeot' vehicle.

So far as my invention in this application is concerned it is immaterialwhat source of electrical power may be employed. By-employing movable ordetachable frames F, by which the motor eldmagnets are sleeved to theaxle, I am enabled to overcome many of the difficulties `which mightarise by Wearing or breaking of the journals if said journals wereintegral with the field-magnet castings or forgings, since a defectivepart may be replaced Without removing the parts constituting themotor-proper. The construction prevents the motor from straininglaterally and reduces the liability of disabling the apparatus in caseof accident. The brackets F are preferably arranged and bolted upon theoutside of the field-inagnets of the motor, and hence are widelyseparated, and are thereby sleeved upon the axle at points outside thecenter of the motor. It is evident from the construction herein set outthat the motors are supported by the arles and a trame inde* pendentlyof the vehicle-frame and, further, are elastically supported by springsindependent of those which support the vehicle-body 0,; it-s frame. lSythis it is seen that motors and vehicle-body are independently flexiblysupported upon the same truck, so that cach may vibrate in accordancewith the especial .iniiuences which govern it without interfering withthe other or being interfered with. It will be observed that the motorstructure is such that the interior armature-space of the fieldmagnetsis inclosed or housed in, and the armature therein is thus Wellprotected, the armature-shaft being journaled in the housing at eachside of the motor.

I have now described the general construction and will finally refer toFighe, which illustrates t-he arrangement of motor-circuits on the carshown in Fig. Figs. 1, 2, and 3 correspond to the three trucks. In thisoonnection the collectors on the middle truck have been dispensed with,and the positive and negative collectors on the front and rearv `trucks,respectively, connected together by the motor-circuits L. L is thearmature-cir cuit and contains the armature on each truck inmultiple-arc connection and the armatures on the different. trucks inseries. This circuit also contains resistancechanger Z/ and acurrent-reverser Z. The field-magnet coils are also coupled in multiplearc on each truck, but in series on the different trucks, and thefield-magnet circuit L2 has a resistance-- changer Z' or otherequivalent means for varying its strength. 'lhe resistance-changers andcurrent-reverser are preferably carried on the car-body and areconnected by suitable rods or chains with levers Q It S or theirequivalent upon either or both platforms of the car, so that in thelatter case the car could be controlled from either end. These levers orcontrollers may be secured to the flashers, as shown in Fig. 3. Themotor-circuits are brought to the car-body from the trucks by arrangingthem close tothe pivot-point, as indicated in Fig. l, so that as littlemotion as possible shall be given to them when the trucks move, toprevent their derangement and increase their wear. In the construction'shown in Fig. 3 the circuits might be brought Aelevation of the motoris not changed by the great variations in the loads carried by the body,thus enabling the suspension ofthe moto'r to be at the lowest possibleposition without danger of striking obstructions which are usually foundin the streets and which would occur if the motor were lowered with thedepressed car-body. The axles being more or less free in their boxes,the hinging of the motor to the axles insures the proper meehauioalcouuocliou therewith undorall (zum.

IOO

propelling the same, brackets extending from the field-magnet ol' said'motor on each side and sleeved on an axle of the vehicle, adriving-shaft supported by said brackets, gearing between said drivingshaft and axle, and a frame independent of vertical motions of thevehicle-bod y supported by the axles and sustaining the free end of themotor.

Il. The combination ofia wheeled vehicle, an electrodynainic motormounted thereon and propelling the same and centered at one side of thearmature on an axle of the vehie cle at-ividely-separated points, ayieldingsupport for said motor at its free end, gear-wheels on saidmotorand axle between the centeringsupports of the motor and theaxle-boxes, and a frame separate from the vehicle-body carried by theaxles for supporting the free end of the motor arranged outside of thecenten ing-supports of the motor.

12. The combination of a wheeled vehicle, an electrodynamic motormounted thereon and propelling the same, brackets extending from thefield-magnet of the motor on each side and sleevedon an axle of thevehicle, the'armature-shaft of the motor supported in bearings on saidbrackets, and gearing between said armature-shaft and said axle.

13. lhe combination, with a wheeled vehicle,of an electrodynamic motormounted upon and propelling the same, the keeper or yoke of theheld-magnet of said motor being situated parallel with and in proximityto a driving-axle of said vehicle and provided with two extensions, oneon each side, which are sleeved on said axle at points outside thecenter of the motor.

ll. In an electrically-propelled car the com bination of thevehicle-body, the axles, an electric motor directly jou rnaled to one ofthe axles at widely-separated points and having afreely-revolvingarmature-shaft, single-reduction gearing between the armature-shaft andaxle, and a support carried by the axles and located between the twoaxles and below and separate from the vehicle-body for supporting thefree end of the motor.

l5. The combination of vehicle-wheels and 4 axles, a frame structureinelastically supported thereon,an electric motor directly j ournaledupon the axle, an elastic connection between the motor and frame,power-transmitting connectionsI between the motor-shaft and axle, and avehicle-body supported upon springs and having vertical motions separatelroin those of the l'raine structure.

l0. In an electrically-propelled vehicle, the axles, in combination witha motor hinged directly thereto whereby its shaft always remainsparallel to and at a lixed distance vfrom the axle, gearing orequivaleml power-transmitting connections between said axle andmotor-shaft, a frame supported upon, the

axles and not parta-king of the motions of the vehicle-body, meansloosely connecting the motor with' the frame to prevent the motor fromrotating l'rrcly about the axle, and a ve- Separate from and notpartaking of all the motions of the vehicle-body, an electric n10- torhaving eld-1nagnets and armature one of which parts is rotatable upon amotoihshaft,

means for hinging t-he non-rotatable part of the in'otor to the axle,power-transinittin g connection between the motor-shaft and axle, and aflexible or movable connect-ion between the free end.- of the motor andsupport or frame. 18. The combination of the axles and Wheels, with aframeI supported upon the axles independently of the spring motions ofthe Vehicle-body and consisting of two side bars with a cross-bar, anelectric motor directly journaled uponihe axle, and a flexible oryielding connection between the motor and the cross-bar.

lf). In an electric car the combination of the axles and wheels, .aframe structure supported by the axles and having two longitudi- .nalside bars extending from axle-box to'axlebox outside the wheels, anelectric motor hinged to' the axle-box between the wheels of one oftheaxles, power-transmitting conne@ tions between the motor-shaft and axle,a flexible or yielding support between the free end of the motor and theframe structure, a car-body separate and movable vertically independentof the frame structure, and springs supporting the car-.body carrieddirectly by the frame structure.

20. In an electric vehicle, the combination of the two axles and theirwheels, with an electric motor journaled upon the axle atwidely-separated points and having its interior space adjacent to thepoles and field-magnets inclosed and constituting a housed space inwhich the armature revolves, said arma-` ture having a shaft journaledin the housing at the sides of the motor, gearing between thearmature-shaft and the axle outside of the housings of the motor, and ayielding sup port carried by both axles connecting with the held-magnetsof the motor at the side of the armature farthest from the axle to whichit is journaled.

2l. In an electric ear the combination of the wheels and axles, aspring-supported carbody, two or more motors. eachhinged to separateaxles and respectively geared thereto loose or yielding connectionssupporting the free ends of the motors against rotation leading to andcarried by theaxles independently of the car-body whereby the motor docsnot partake of the vertical motions of the carbody, circuits forsupplying current to all -of the motors secured to the ear-body andilexibly connected with the motors, and means fori.A

controlling the current in said eifre-i-titsand IOO IIO

motors arranged on both platforms ofthe car whereby the car may beoperated from either end.

In an electric car the combination of the wheels and axles, aspring-supported carbody, two or more motors each hin ged to separateaxles and respectively geared thereto loose or yielding connectionssupporting the free ends of the motors against rotation leading to andcarried by the axles independently of the car-body whereby the motordoes not partake ot the'vertical motions of the carbody, circuit-s forsupplying current to all of the motors secured to the ear-body andfiexibly connected with the motors, and means for reversing the currentin said motors arranged on both platforms of the car whereby the car maybe operated'froin both ends.

In an electric car, the two axles, in combination with separate motorshaving their field-magnets directly journaled upon the respective axlesand having their shafts arranged nearer together and in the spacesbetween the two axles and parallel to said axles, a frame supported uponthe axles and independent' of the spring movements of the ve"-hicle-body, power-transmitting gearing bel tween the motor-shafts andthe respective axles,fiexible ormovable connections between the freeends of the motors and the frame supported on the axles, and avehicle-body sustained upon springs and having no direct connection withthe motors and having spring movements independent ofthe framesustaining the motors.

24. The combination of two axles and their wheels, with a separateelectric motor directly j ournaled and geared to each axle, a frameextending from axle to axle, independent yielding supports between themotors and frame, and a spring-supported Vehicle-bod y movableindependently of the frame.

25. In an electric car, the combination of the axles, a frame carriedupon loot-h the axles.

and separate from the Vehicle-body, a vehiclebody supported on springs,an electric motor to rotate the axle and so as to be substantiallybalanced upon said axle, and a connection between the motor and frameindependent of the vehicle-body or its supporting-springs.

26. In an electricallypropelled car, the

'combination of the wheels and axles, with a car-body supported thereonby springs so as to have free vertical motion independent of the motor,an electric motor arranged below the car-body and independent thereofand having suitable guides or bearings for hingling upon the axle, apower-transitiitting connection between the motor and axle to which IRUDOLPH M. HUNTER.

Vitnesses:

RiicHD. S. CHILD, Jr., E. M. BRECKINREED.

